Punch, an abandoned monkey from Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, has won the hearts of millions online. He is a baby Japanese macaque who went viral earlier this month. 

The Ichikawa City Zoo is home to many animals but none have captured the public’s attention quite like Punch. Born earlier this year, Punch was quickly rejected by his mother after birth. In the wild, this can happen sometimes if the mother feels unable to care for the baby. In a zoo, though, the keepers were able to step in quickly and make sure the monkey was able to survive. Staff members began to hand raise him by bottle feeding to make sure he continued to grow stronger and healthy.

What made Punch go viral isn’t his cuteness; it was actually the fact that he carries around an orange orangutan stuffed animal. The zookeepers gave Punch the stuffed animal so he had some sort of comfort that a mother could give. A lot of the other monkeys in the enclosure have bullied Punch, when this happens he runs away with his orangutan and has it hug him while he sits in the corner. The image of the tiny monkey clutching his monkey spread across social media, with viewers describing him as adorable but also heartbreaking.

These videos of Punch running away and not really socializing with the other monkey are what made the public love him. Many people saw themselves in Punch, relating to feeling left out or needing comfort during difficult times. His story is more than a cute animal clip, it became something that was emotional and very human.

Recently, new videos have surfaced of Punch socializing with the other monkeys and the public is so happy for him. In newer clips, he appears to be more confident and willing to be a part of the group. While he still keeps his orange stuffed animal around, he is willing to explore and interact more. Fans across the world continue to cheer him on, hopeful that Punch will grow up to be fully accepted.